Tuesday, 25 June to Sunday, 29 June 2019, 12.00-5.00pm
Free Admission
‘Bigg Ideas’ is an exhibition of artwork and design projects created by students at Northumbria University, who have been inspired by the regeneration of Newcastle’s famous Bigg Market. The exhibition features work from first year Fashion Communication, Graphic Design and Interaction Design students as well as MFA Fine Art and final year Interaction Design students.
NE1, the local business improvement district company who are responsible for overseeing the Bigg Market’s transformation asked the University back in 2016 if they would be interested in supporting their Heritage Lottery Fund bid through the contribution of pop-up exhibition that required researching the history of the buildings and people of Bigg Market to create new work.
The University agreed to support this initiative as we could see the obvious benefits for the city and the great learning opportunity for our students, many of whom are new to the city. We felt the project would give our students an invaluable induction to the city’s history and inspire them to invest their own creativity in the world immediately around them.
Alex Slack and the rest of the team at NE1 have been really engaged with the students and staff who have taken part in the project. They’ve been involved with student briefings, crits and given their expertise willingly. It’s given our students new insights and great confidence that their ideas are valued and valuable to the community.’
Jamie Steane, Associate Professor of Design and project lead for the University.
The individual courses gave their students their own tailored brief to explore the heritage of the Bigg Market. For example, MFA Fine Art students were asked to imagine being commissioned to create a piece of Public Art or an exhibition piece that was inspired by the Bigg Market’s culture and history. Whereas Graphic Design first years were asked to create design concepts that would ‘improve community engagement with a new Bigg Market at all times of day…’
Alex Slack, Bigg Market Regeneration Project Lead, NE1
“Working with the Northumbria University students has been an incredible experience especially as Alumni. The talent and creativity that the students have demonstrated gives a real sense of encouragement for the future of the art and design sectors. On a personal level I have been afforded the utmost professional courtesy from all involved and I truly hope this is just the beginning of our collaborations”
Over 200 students took part in the briefs and over 30 of the best final artworks, concepts and design prototypes are will be on public display at Baltic 39 12-5pm from Tuesday 25th June to Sunday 29th June 2019. Entrance is free.